The fight over who will lead the European Commission reflects the power struggle among the commission, Parliament and member states.

Large numbers of voters delivered a message of dissatisfaction with the European Union in elections for the European Parliament that ended Sunday. Politicians immediately responded by embarking on a turf battle.

On the face of it, the issue they are fighting over is trivial: Should the job of president of the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, go to a former longtime prime minister of Luxembourg or to someone else?